Teachers’ Day 2011 observed

Right on its own does not translate into human well being, says Chief Minister Chamling

 Gangtok: September 5, 2011: Rights and privileges as provided under our Constitution do not automatically translate into human happiness and do not guarantee peace and security for citizens on their own.  The Chief Minister shared his opinion today here at Chintan Bhawan as Chief Guest of the Teachers’ Day celebration. Further elaborating on his point, Shri Chamling presented some insightful thought and scintillating cases to support his argument. Expanding on this, he said that although Article 21(a) of the Indian Constitution provides for Right to Education, hundreds of our fellow brethren are still illiterate in India. Further, Clause 302 of the Indian Penal Code awards death sentence for murderous acts. However, have they deterred criminals from committing criminal activities in the Country? Citing similar examples to the intellectuals present, Shri Chamling called for ‘personal responsibility at all levels’ to bring about desired improvement and change.

Talking about globalization process, the Chief Minister highlighted how we are struggling against certain social menace including drug abuse, alcoholism, and suicide cases as global phenomena. In view of this increased challenges, the Chief Minister called for increased responsibility on the part of each and every teacher and parents to regularly monitor behaviour of children in schools and and at home. Calling mother as the first teacher of the child, Shri Chamling categorized teachers into two groups- those who inspires and the other who teaches. Citing examples of historical persons who inspired, Shri Chamling took some name like Vashista, Guru Dhornacharya, Plato, Aristotle, Swami Vivekanand and Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan or at a more spiritual level Buddha and Jesus. And in building the character of a child, we need both categories of teachers to guide our children in the positive direction.

The Chief Minister also handed over State awards eight government school teachers on the occasion. They were KB Subba (Primary Teacher, Mukrung Secondary School ) and PD Rai (Headmaster, Rumbuk Junior High School) from west District; Sonam Tshering Lepcha (Headmaster, Malling Primary School) and  Tenzong Lepcha (Primary Teacher, Labi-Rangdam Primary School) from North District; PL Sharma ( Headmaster, Rong Secondary School) and Suk Tshering (Primary Teacher, Sripadam Junior High School) from South District; Ranjana  Pradhan (Graduate Teacher, Deorali Senior Secondary School) and Pemba Tshering Bhutia (Primary Teacher Sonamati  Memorial Secondary School) from East District.

Fifteen teachers also received commendation awards on the occasion while Kyi-De-Khang Secondary School and Melli Gumpa Secondary School received the best performing School awards in government and private school category respectively

The Meeting was also addressed by State HRDD Minister, Shri NK Pradhan, Secretary HRDD, Shri CS Rao and Director, Technical Education.